Financial & Legal Resources

Missouri ABLE Accounts

MO ABLE gives Missourians the opportunity to open a STABLE Account at a discounted rate. A STABLE Account is an investment account for individuals with disabilities and are available by the federal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. This act was passed in December 2014 and gives individuals the ability to save and invest money without losing their eligibilty for some public benefit programs.

Guardianship and Alternatives

Understanding Guardianship and Alternatives

MO Guardianship RESOURCE GUIDE rev Sept 2013.pdf

Guardianship-Packet-4.2015.pdf

Guardianship

A person who has been appointed by a court (usually the probate division of the circuit court) to have the care and custody of a minor or of an adult person who has been legally determined to be incapacitated.

Supported Decision Making

Supported decision making (SDM) is a tool that allows people with disabilities to retain their decision making capacity by choosing supporters to help them make choices. A person using SDM selects trusted advisors, such as friends, family members, or professionals, to serve as supporters. The supporters agree to help the person with a disability understand, consider, and communicate decisions, giving the person with a disability the tools to make her own, informed, decisions. - ACLU

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney is an instrument containing an authorization for one to act as the agent of the principal that terminates at some point in the future either by its terms or by operation of law such as the death of the principal or agent. They are also called letters of attorney. - uslegal.com

Conservator of a Person

A person or a corporation, such as a bank or trust company, appointed by a court (again, usually the probate division of the circuit court) to manage the property of a minor or of an adult person who has been legally determined to be disabled.

The benefits of a conservatorship are:

It provides a way for you to assist a loved one whose health is at risk but who refuses help. And,

The conservator can obtain medical information and communicate with health care providers to make sure your loved one receives the best medical care. This is particularly helpful if your loved one is in a nursing home or assisted living home, or needs continuous monitoring of a serious health condition.

The conservator has the legal authority to make basic personal and health-care decisions for the protected person. The conservator must act responsibly and file regular reports with the court.

When the court chooses you as the conservator of a person, this means you: 1) arrange for the conservatee's care and protection;

2) decide where the conservatee will live; and 3) are in charge of: health care, food, clothes, personal care, housekeeping, transportation and recreation.

-uslegal.com

Missouri Protection and Advocacy Services (Mo P&A) is designated by the Missouri Governor as the federally mandated system to protect the legal rights of persons with disabilities through legal-based advocacy. Mo P&A was established in 1977 to address public outcry in response to the abuse, neglect, and lack of programming in institutions for persons with disabilities.

Since 1956, they have provided free legal help for more than 1 million low-income individuals/families with civil issues impacting housing, family law, public benefits, consumer fraud, healthcare, children’s well-being, special education and relief from domestic violence. In recent years, services have expanded to address the specific needs of immigrant and refugee families, veterans, community economic development and small-business and minority entrepreneurs. Legal Services now has four offices – St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Hannibal and Union – that serve 21 Missouri counties from the Iowa border to Potosi.

Options for Justice is a nonprofit organization serving individuals with developmental disabilities in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Lincoln County who are at risk to become or who are involved with the criminal justice system.

ArchCity’s clients are inescapably targeted and punished by the criminal legal system of police, courts, and jails. Our clients experience many collateral consequences as a result of their interactions with the system — losing jobs, vehicles, and apartments, and facing large barriers to regaining housing and employment. ArchCity Defenders uses holistic legal advocacy to fight with our clients in court, help families rebuild their lives together, and bring civil rights lawsuits to challenge the direct abuses of the criminal legal system.

Missouri Senior Helpline

The Missouri Senior Legal Helpline is a service of the Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services, in partnership with the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, to connect older adults to local attorneys who provide legal assistance for seniors and their caregivers. Assistance provided through this service is funded by the federal Older Americans Act.

The Legal Helpline provides information and assistance on power of attorney, guardianship, living wills, advance directives, wills, trusts, and other civil legal issues. The Helpline does not help with criminal cases, fee-generating cases, imprisonment, or municipal/traffic cases.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions about services reach out to a Family Navigator.

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